Victory Metals (ASX:VTM) reports an estimated 59-fold upgrade to approximately 7.1% total rare earth oxide (TREO) concentrate from its recently commissioned pilot plant at the North Stanmore Project in Perth.
Results were derived from 65 samples across 25 drill holes, with depths between 14m and 58m downhole.
The company used a feed grade of 1,195 parts per million (ppm) comprising 40% heavy rare earth oxides (HREOs), including dysprosium oxide at 2,777 ppm, terbium oxide at 479 ppm, and yttrium oxide at 1.77% by weight.
Extremely low activity levels of thorium and uranium were also detected, indicating the concentrate can be shipped as general cargo.
The result was achieved in a continuously fed circuit operating at approximately 12 times the scale of any previous flotation testwork on North Stanmore ore, avoiding high temperature, acid cracking, and associated capital costs.
Victory Chief Executive Officer Brendan Clark says this is the result the company has been working towards.
“We have now proven, at continuous pilot scale and on our own plant commissioned right here in Perth at our own premises, that North Stanmore’s heavy rare earths can be concentrated in a simple, conventional flotation circuit while preserving the premium dysprosium, terbium and yttrium basket that makes this deposit strategically important,” Clark says.
“[An estimated] 59-fold upgrade from only one cleaner stage in a continuously operating circuit is the foundation of a smaller, cheaper, and faster plant and I am impressed that we are leading the way in simplifying rare earth processing.”
The company notes that the results will feed directly into the company’s impending Prefeasibility Study.
North Stanmore currently hosts a mineral resource estimate of 320.6 million tonnes at 510 ppm TREO, with 55% classified as indicated resources.
Victory Metals is an exploration company focused on developing its flagship North Stanmore Heavy Rare Earth Elements and Critical Minerals Project in Western Australia.
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
Images: Victory Metals
